As I think I indicated a few weeks ago on this forum, Rodney Stark's latest
book is very interesting. It does nicely present the deficiencies of the AD
White "warfare" thesis of the history of Xty and science. To that extent, I
would not hesitate to cite the book.
On the other hand, Stark wrongly gives readers the impression that
historians of science generally agree that Xty "caused" modern science. We
do not agree about this, indeed I disagree with it myself. A reader might,
for example, form the impression that David Lindberg believes this claim,
which Lindberg definitely does not. In other words, he overstates the case
for the opposite of the "warfare" view. The story of religion and the rise
of modern science (to use the words in the title of one of Hooykaas' books)
is complicated, and to look for one single cause of it is rather like
looking for a one-legged stool. It won't stand up.
Conclusion: read Stark (who is a sociologist, not an historian) with
interest, but with some caution.
ted
Received on Mon Dec 8 14:03:32 2003
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